From across the battlefield, Hawkeye caught sight of Cora and Alice. The two women were moving alone through the chaos and he knew that it was only a matter of time before they became victims. Motioning to his father and brother, he pointed across the field, telling them he had located the women. The three men sprinted toward them. Hawkeye's fury knew no limits as he fought to reach the woman he loved.

Slashing and hacking beside his brother, Uncas took on man after man as each confronted him. His one thought was reaching Alice Munro and telling the young woman how he truly felt...no matter the consequences. After their kiss at the fort, he had spent a long, sleepless night wondering if his feelings were real and true. Before trying to rest, he had poured out his heart to his brother, hoping Nathaniel would offer his wise council. In the end, his only words to Uncas were, 'Follow your heart, brother. It will show you the way.' No woman had ever touched him the way Alice Munro had and he needed to tell her he loved her.

Weaving in and out of the shifting field of fighting, the three men took down each new opponent that blocked their progress. Hawkeye quickly began to move away from his brother and father as he fought to reach Cora. As he closed the distance between them, his blood froze in his veins. Ahead of him, he saw a young Huron brave grab Cora by the hair and put a hatchet to her throat.

Screaming her name as he raced forward, Hawkeye swung his tomahawk with a ferocity he didn't know he possessed. The Huron barely caught sight of him as he struck. The first blow knocked the native back, loosening his hold on the stunned Cora. The second hit knocked the man onto his knees. Nathaniel landed two more blows before his anger abated. Turning, he caught sight of his love slowly rising to her feet. Pulling her into his embrace, he thanked the maker of all life that he had arrived in time.

Sitting in stunned silence on the ground not far from Cora was Alice. She hadn't moved from where the Huron had thrown her during the fight. Her body now felt as numb as her mind and the overwhelming smell of sweat, blood, and gunpowder had taken their toll on her all ready saturated senses. Her flat, expressionless eyes stared through the turmoil that swirled around her, no longer caring if she lived or died.

It took the gentle touch of a hand to shock her enough to glance up. At first, she wasn't sure if she could trust her eyes, but standing beside her was the one she had prayed would come for her.

Uncas.

Placing a hand under her arm, the young Mohican helped the frightened girl to her feet. His heart leapt for joy at finding her safe and alive, but he was troubled by her lack of emotion.

In the short time he had known her, Uncas could see that Alice Munro possessed a gentle, loving spirit. For that reason, he worried that the harshness of the frontier would prove too much for her. A part of him even wondered if he was drawn toward her out of a need to protect her. It didn't take long for him to push those thoughts aside. What he felt for this beautiful young woman was love, pure and simple.

Taking her arm, he spoke softly in his native tongue as they hurried after the others. He hoped the voice of one who loved her would bring her back to him. Though he knew she didn't understand his words, he decided to speak from his heart, telling her of his love and how he wanted and needed her.

Taking the point, Chingachgook led their group through the smoke shrouded chaos and into the welcoming cover of the surrounding woodlands. It wasn't long before they emerged into a clearing near the lake. The group raced toward their welcoming waters and Hawkeye caught sight of two canoes moored further up the shore. Speaking quickly in Mohican to his father and brother, the group moved down the muddy banks toward them.

Fighting their way down toward the canoes, they were soon joined by a lone Mohawk scout and a wounded Colonial soldier. Led by Chingachgook, Cora and Alice struggled to keep their footing on the ever-decreasing shoreline. The loud report of a nearby rifle caused both women to jump with terror. The Mohawk scout crumpled, releasing his hold on the wounded soldier. Though Hawkeye tried to help the native, it was already too late and he slid silently into the muddy waters of the lake.

Grabbing the wounded Colonial, Uncas guided him the last few feet to the canoes. Holding the dugout steady, he helped the soldier, Alice and Cora into it. Chingachgook climbed in behind the women, picking up a paddle. Uncas positioned himself behind Alice and Nathaniel took the front position.

After pushing their canoe off the bank and into the water, the three men began to row furiously, their well-timed strokes propelled the craft away from the shore and into the middle of the lake. A mixture of fog and smoke rolled over the dark waters surrounding them. Hawkeye hoped it would conceal them as they made good their escape.

His wish was short lived however as they emerged from the patchy fog to find themselves face to face with Major Heyward and another man in a canoe.

Hearing the splash of paddles on the lake, Duncan watched as the outline of another canoe materialized out of the smoke. Without waiting to see if they were friend or foe, he raised his pistol at the approaching dugout and cocked the hammer.

Grinning wickedly at Duncan, Hawkeye said, "Got nothin' better to do on the lake today Major?"

His voice shaking in anger, Heyward shouted, "When you fall into British hands again, I'll have you hanged!"

Unfazed by the threat, Nathaniel and his companions slid past at lightening speed. Holstering his weapon, Duncan picked up his paddle and quickly followed.

Wiping the spray from her face, Alice turned and glanced over her shoulder. In the distance, she caught sight of several canoes. Her eyes widened in terror as she realized they were headed toward them.

Seeing the fear on her face, Uncas looked behind him. Just over the horizon, he could just make out three canoes, racing toward them. Without breaking his stride, he shouted in Mohican to his brother.

Nodding, Hawkeye replied, "Faster!" The opening to the river mouth came into view and he guided the canoe toward it. Shouting to Heyward, he said, "Head for the river!"

Although still angry with Nathaniel, Heyward none-the-less followed his lead, guiding his craft in the direction of the river mouth. With only himself and another man to row, they quickly fell behind.

Realizing that the Major couldn't keep pace, Uncas dove into the lake and surfaced next to their canoe. Once inside, he began to row with all his might, enabling the second rig to catch up.

The two canoes entered the river, keeping just ahead of those that followed. The quiet calm of the lake gave way to the turbulence of the fast moving river. Alice felt her heart leap into her throat as the canoe went over the first waterfall. It wasn't the largest one she had ever seen, but she heard Nathaniel say a larger one loomed before them. Shivering from a combination of cold and fear, she wondered if she would ever awaken from this nightmare. And where was Papa? In the rush to flee their attackers, she they had lost track of him.

Turning toward her sister, Alice asked, "Cora, what about Papa?"

Shrugging her shoulders, Cora replied, "I don't know. I lost sight of him after we fled." She paused for a moment before adding, "Don't worry Alice, I'm sure he's fine. Papa knows how to protect himself."

Nodding, Alice mulled over Cora's words. Her sister and father sometimes had a tendency to treat her like a child--withholding truths they felt were too painful. Facing forward again, she noticed that Nathaniel was slowing the forward momentum of the dugout as they approached another waterfall.

Shouting for Uncas and the others to follow, Hawkeye aimed the nose of their rig toward the shore. With the help of his father, he steadied the canoe, as the women and the wounded soldier scrambled over a jumble of large boulders and onto the riverbank. He waited for his brother, Heyward and the other man to beach their rig. Then with their help, they pushed the empty canoes back into the river where the current sent them crashing over the falls. Taking his rifle from Chingachgook, Nathaniel took the point as he led the small group into the surrounding woods.

Although he followed, Duncan had to fight the urge to release the anger that bubbled just below the surface. The loss of Cora to this heathen was galling and now to allow himself to be led into the wilderness was almost too much for him. He was a damn Major in the British Army, use to giving orders, not taking them. When Hawkeye pointed toward a small opening near a rocky outcropping under the falls, he could contain his exasperation no longer.

After stepping inside he asked angrily, "Where are we going?"

"Nowhere." replied Hawkeye loudly. The roar of the falls thundered in his ears making him raise his voice to be heard.

"I don't understand," said Heyward as he followed him down into a narrow, rocky corridor.

"This is as far as we go. If we're lucky, they'll figure we beached our canoes and headed 'cross land. If we're very lucky, they'll think we went over the falls. Our only hope is that they pass us by." Hawkeye explained as he watched Uncas and Chingachgook help the women down into the slippery bowels of their new hiding place. Cora and Alice were both drenched from the falling water.

"If they do?" Heyward questioned as he followed with his wounded man.

"We'll take the south rim down the mountain. It's twelve miles across country to Fort Edward." Hawkeye stated as he stepped onto the cave floor.

"And if they don't?" Duncan growled.

"You'll just have to forego the pleasure of hanging me." Turning away from Heyward, he spoke rapidly to his father and brother in Mohican.

Pulling his hatchet, Uncas gave a brief reply to Hawkeye before he left, retracing his steps back to the cave entrance.

Pulling his powder horn, Hawkeye asked, "Powder?"

Duncan pulled his own and replied, "Gone."

Shaking his head slightly, Chingachgook responded in Mohican to his son.

"Mine's soakin wet!" snapped Hawkeye.

Cora had watched quietly as the men discussed the situation, but finally she interjected herself into the conversation. She had only one question she needed an answer to. Speaking loudly, she asked, "Our father? Did you see my father?"

Turning toward her, Nathaniel lowered his voice so that only she could hear him. "From a distance."

Taking her to one side of the cave, he pulled her gently to him and whispered in her ear. With the truth revealed, Cora began to cry softly, beating her fists into his back. Burying her face against his shoulder, Cora tried to control the sorrow racking her as she said, "Say nothing to Alice."

Tightening his arms around her, Nathaniel tried to comfort her as best he could.